Best Web Conferencing Software46Web conferencing tools provide real-time communications in which multiple computer users, all connected to the Internet, see the same screen at all times in their Web browsers. Some Web conferencing systems include features such as texting, VoIP (voice over IP) and video.ConnectWise Control (formerly ScreenConnect)1https://www.trustradius.com/products/connectwise-control/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/wz/3F/XBNT4V9FQ0ES.PNGZoom2https://www.trustradius.com/products/zoom/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/X0/J2/JJQC92U6VWBP.PNGBlueJeans3https://www.trustradius.com/products/bluejeans/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/3D/pB/JIJ514N302NX.PNGTeamViewer4https://www.trustradius.com/products/teamviewer/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/5v/PN/4ZAW7KOFDJ2B.JPEGLifesize Video Conferencing5https://www.trustradius.com/products/lifesize-video-conferencing/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/FI/7l/CTRQWR3WTSJK.JPEGWebex Meetings6https://www.trustradius.com/products/webex-meetings/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/PY/Ei/TXG7TZILI5VU.PNGSkype for Business (formerly Lync)7https://www.trustradius.com/products/skype-for-business/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/9N/xn/FCFVWJ699QTI.PNGGoToMeeting8https://www.trustradius.com/products/gotomeeting/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/3I/CZ/CJMTEKBSKLZT.PNGGoToWebinar9https://www.trustradius.com/products/gotowebinar/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/3G/yq/ZMNP8RT93TGU.PNGFuze10https://www.trustradius.com/products/fuze/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/K9/Bf/41QQ840QO2WN.JPEGMicrosoft Teams11https://www.trustradius.com/products/microsoft-teams/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/vendor-logos/tf/J4/RTX1AO2GSVNS-180x180.JPEGAdobe Connect12https://www.trustradius.com/products/adobe-connect/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/cK/jY/1XN9JTDUH7RO.JPEGSkype13https://www.trustradius.com/products/skype/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/qJ/Wv/F01LBWLMDIHG.JPEGJive Hosted VoIP14https://www.trustradius.com/products/jive-hosted-voip/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/4i/FW/BXC237ZFZ929.PNGJoin.me15https://www.trustradius.com/products/joinme/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/o5/It/72B47N07V7D3.JPEGGlobalMeet Collaboration16https://www.trustradius.com/products/globalmeet-collaboration/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/3v/bM/2K7CRNBH3T71.PNGUberConference17https://www.trustradius.com/products/uberconference/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/QY/xL/ZXQFGQ5L4UIK.PNGBlackboard Collaborate18https://www.trustradius.com/products/blackboard-collaborate/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/vendor-logos/ka/Wf/5WNBTTTOLMUK-180x180.PNGHighfive19https://www.trustradius.com/products/highfive/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/Ti/Fw/TSUMPUQMDRAN.PNGIntermedia AnyMeeting20https://www.trustradius.com/products/intermedia-anymeeting/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/vendor-logos/iT/lM/C9D6JMETEO26-180x180.PNGBlizz by TeamViewer21https://www.trustradius.com/products/blizz/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/k3/iq/3JL0H7XWMIQO.PNGAmazon Chime22https://www.trustradius.com/products/amazon-chime/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/vendor-logos/LY/YM/1TDXH4LPI5BH-180x180.JPEGClickMeeting23https://www.trustradius.com/products/clickmeeting/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/FJ/Mq/TR8ZPK3B14O0.PNGVidyo24https://www.trustradius.com/products/vidyo/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/product-logos/6w/xZ/1JX08GQMRIWU.PNGRingCentral Meetings25https://www.trustradius.com/products/ringcentral-meetings/reviewshttps://media.trustradius.com/vendor-logos/f4/PY/TD7Q013W5TH1-180x180.JPEG

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Web Conferencing Software Overview

What is Web Conferencing?

Web conferencing software allows participants to conduct or attend meetings via the internet. This is also known as online meeting software. It enables remote meetings based on VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, file and screen sharing.

Web conferencing has become fundamental to how many organizations conduct business. The tools enable remote employees, customers, and partners to connect easily and often. Specific uses for web conferencing software include:

Presentations or webinars

Conference calls

Video meetings with multiple participants

Running product demos and training

1-on-1 meetings with remote employees

Face-to-face customer support

The top three benefits of using web conferencing software are:

Enhanced communications

Reduced travel costs

Increased efficiency

Web Conferencing Features & Capabilities

Audio and video quality

Web conferencing software should facilitate audio calls and video conferencing. The quality of audio and video is a key factor to consider. Buyers should also consider the bandwidth usage of the software.

Screen sharing

Meeting presenters should be able to share their screens with participants.

Online meetings

Users can typically schedule meetings or initiate impromptu meetings. Participants should be able to easily join meetings—and mute themselves. The ability to record meetings (and save or download recordings) is offered by some, but not all vendors. Buyers should investigate to make sure meeting recordings meet their needs.

Collaboration

Many web conferencing software products include collaboration features such as live chat, audience polling, Q&A, and file sharing.

Security

Mobility

Some web conferencing software products offer a mobile app. This allows easy access to video meetings from a mobile device or tablet. Others allow users to call in from mobile devices (audio-only), or join meetings from a mobile-friendly web link.

Other features include:

Slideshow presentations

Meeting scheduling and recording

Live chatting

Audience interaction features

File sharing

Web Conferencing vs. Video Conferencing

Web conferencing traditionally referred to “one-to-many” interactions. This included presentations, training, and webinars. Individuals could participate via chat or “hand-raising” but the presenter was the key communicator. In contrast, video conferencing traditionally referred to face-to-face interactions between equal participants, typically two people or a small group.

This line between web conferencing and video conferencing is blurring. Web conferencing no longer refers just to calls with a single presenter. The term now includes group discussions, 1:1 meetings, and video calls. Most online meeting vendors offer both traditional web conferencing features (e.g. ,screen sharing, presentations to large groups, meeting moderation) and traditional video conferencing features (e.g., two-way video and audio).

Free products (and free tiers of paid products) may have some limitations. This includes lower video/audio quality, fewer features, and restrictions on the size of meetings, for example. Paid products typically have more features and better performance and security. But they can be cost-prohibitive for smaller companies, especially if online meetings are only needed now and then by a few individuals.

Paid Web Conferencing

For paid plans, web conferencing software is usually priced per seat by the number of meeting participants and included features. Prices start as low as $15/mo. per host for up to 100 participants, as with the Zoom Pro plan. For enterprise-wide web conferencing software, prices can run into thousands of dollars per month. This includes multiple hosts, virtual meeting rooms, integrations, security & administration, enhanced support, and more.

ConnectWise Control is a remote support, access, and meeting solution. With ConnectWise Control, users can utilize remote support and access to repair computers, provide updates, and manage machines. Users can also conduct online seminars and presentations using remote meetings.

Zoom is an online meeting and video conferencing platform known for its webinar capabilities for live virtual events and broadcasting. It features HD video and audio, collaboration tools, chat functionality, and an enterprise cloud phone system.

BlueJeans is a cloud-based web conferencing and unified communications software with multi-vendor, multi-device interoperability with both mobile and browser integration for businesses of any size. BlueJeans also provides several collaboration tools and integration with commonly used applications.

Lifesize is a web conferencing platform focused on making video conferencing systems and video conferencing apps work well together, while still being easy-to-use. Their platform incorporates web conferencing software with meeting room devices and wireless screen sharing.

Skype for Business is part of Microsoft’s 365 suite offering and provides an IP PBX for online messaging and web conferencing. It includes features such as live streaming, dialing into conference calls, and the ability to make, receive, and transfer calls via computer or mobile device.

From LogMeIn, GoToMeeting is an online meeting, desktop sharing, and video conferencing software that enables users to connect via the internet. It hosts a suite of online meeting tools, including real-time screen sharing and integrated audio.

Fuze is a cloud-based unified communications platform that includes IP PBX voice service, video conferencing, and collaboration tools such as content sharing and instant messaging capabilities. It also integrates with a wide range of popular CTI, CRM, and click-to-call solutions.

Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform that enables users to create presentations, online training materials, and learning modules. The product is entirely Adobe Flash-based and has several add-ons for customizing its software to suit each users’ unique needs.

Skype (the personal edition) is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software. The free version includes audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people.

Jive Hosted VoIP is a cloud-based business phone system with built-in web-based video conferencing solutions. It includes features such as call analytics, call recording, softphone, fax to email, voicemail to email, and desktop integration.

Join.me from LogMeIn is an audio, video, and web conferencing tool targeted at SMBs. Its software can be used across various devices and includes features such as one-click scheduling, personal links, interactive whiteboards, and presenter swapping.

UberConference is a web conferencing platform with document management capability that integrates with third-party applications such as Google Drive, LinkedIn, Evernote, and Dropbox. It includes features such as screen sharing, call controls, call recording, and a mobile application.

Blackboard Collaborate is an online, collaborative learning platform well-suited for the education industry and corporate learning needs. It includes features such as screen and application sharing, web conferencing, and integration with Blackboard Learn.

Highfive is an integrated hardware and cloud-based software product for room-based video conferencing, wireless projection, and web conferencing. Highfive does not require any downloads, PIN codes, or passwords to use and features unlimited meetings and minutes.

Intermedia AnyMeeting provides web-based video conferencing software designed for small businesses. With AnyMeeting, users have access to a variety of tools to help them host webinars, video conferences, and online meetings complete with screen sharing capabilities.

Blizz is a web conferencing software designed for global collaboration. It aides users in connecting with contacts and remote teams through video meetings, instant chat messaging, screen sharing, and conference recording on desktop and mobile from any location.

Amazon Chime is a communications service from Amazon Web Services with a built-in VoIP solution. Amazon Chime can be used for online meetings, video conferencing, and business calling, and features pay-as-you-go pricing.

ClickMeeting is a webinar solution formerly owned by GetResponse, an email marketing software company. ClickMeeting's online meeting and collaboration tools are designed to support the sales, marketing, e-learning, and training needs of business of all sizes.